India is renown for its rich historical heritage, storied traditions, distinct cultures, and resilient people groups, all of which contribute to the collage of beauty and brilliance that makes up this great nation. Still India is a country torn apart by an exploding AIDS epidemic, religious tensions, political instability, an ever-increasing economic disparity, unsustainable population growth and rampant inflation. In a nation such as this, vulnerable women and children suffer the most.
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Mission Statement
- WMF Kolkata has been called to serve among those who have been sexually exploited. We work to see the freedom and restoration of Kolkata’s red-light areas through dignifying relationship with persons affected by the sex trade.
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Mukti Network (Freedom Network)
- WMF helped found and continues to participate in a network of Christian organizations and individuals who are working with women and children in Kolkata’s red-light districts.
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Sari Bari
- Sari Bari seeks the sustainable restoration of red light communities and the prevention of the exploitation of women and children in the commercial sex trade.Sari Bari is a business whose mission is to offer freedom to women trapped in the sex trade and to provide opportunity to women vulnerable to trafficking. We accomplish this though offering employment in a safe, loving environment, where women are trained as artisans. The women create beautiful, sustainable, handmade products, while making their lives new.
The name “Sari Bari” comes from two symbols. A sari is the traditional clothing worn by women in India and represents the essence of their womanhood. In Bengali, the word bari means “house” or “home.” Our hope is for Sari Bari to be a safe place where women who have been exploited in the sex trade can have their dignity restored and experience a new life in the making.
Sari Bari began in February 2006 with three women who wanted to start the road to freedom from the sex trade. The journey that began in a small room in one of Kolkata’s red light areas has now grown to include over 70 women in three units, with hopes to continue growing these numbers in the immediate future.
Sari Bari’s training program includes literacy, math, and informal mental health classes. WMF Kolkata desires to see the transformation of women’s minds and encourage their value and self-esteem through on-going training and support.
Visit the Sari Bari website to learn more and to buy a handmade blanket or bag.
- Sari Bari seeks the sustainable restoration of red light communities and the prevention of the exploitation of women and children in the commercial sex trade.Sari Bari is a business whose mission is to offer freedom to women trapped in the sex trade and to provide opportunity to women vulnerable to trafficking. We accomplish this though offering employment in a safe, loving environment, where women are trained as artisans. The women create beautiful, sustainable, handmade products, while making their lives new.
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Sari Bari Trust
- Brothel visitation has been a foundational aspect of ministry for the WMF community since 1999. We are committed to offering a presence and voice in the brothels and lanes of Kolkata’s red light areas. We continue to seek ways to expand, improve, grow and develop what is being done in Kolkata’s red light districts, and the Sari Bari Trust was the next step in this process. We have invited national board members to partner with us in being a support, encouragement, accountability, and advocate to better serve those persons affected by the sex trade.The Sari Bari Trust is a partnership and a connection point between the work our brothel visitation staff are doing, Sari Bari Pvt. Ltd, and the greater Kolkata and International communities. The Sari Bari Trust is registered in India as a public charitable non-profit making trust and NGO (non-government organization), and seeks to support projects such as HIV awareness and support programs, Sari Bari training expenses, medical expenses such as glasses and Wellness Check-Ups, school support, brothel visitation and medical advocate staff salaries, Sari Bari graduation and Christmas gifts, building purchases, small loan distribution, special occasion celebrations, and Sari Bari prevention unit expansion.
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Brothel Outreach Ministry
- The WMF community is committed to being a pressence of peace and hope among the people of Kolkata’s red light districts. Staff members make visitations 2-3 times a week to build relationships, resource women to find eduction for their children, assist with connections to alternate sources of employment, and help in medical advocacy.